Watford nil-nil QPR 7-9-7 30 pts

Half-way through the season and at the top of (the second half of) the league table.

Today's match was a typical Championship defensive bout, but a point seems refreshing after this fall's slump.

Watford put together one serious attack with Diego Fabbrini on the end of a Troy Deeney pass, but one shot does not three points make.

2014 kicks off at Yeovil Town New Year's Day at 11:30 St. Louis time.

New coach, New Year, New Results . . . Go You 'Orns!!

Watford 4-0 Millwall 7-8-7 29 pts.

The streak ends and oh! what a bit of confidence can do.

I overslept the 7 am St. Louis time (or, in my case, Columbia, MO time) start, but Watford jumped to the lead ten minutes in when a foul by former Hornet Danny Shittu lead to Shittu's sending off and a Troy Deeney penalty kick slotting in.

Fernando Forestieri doubled the lead 23 minutes off an Ikechi Anya cross giving Watford two more goals than their four previous home matches combined.

Anya again lead the fun in the second half with a goal a scant three minutes after play resumed. Katy bar the door at that point as every Watford scorer wanted to join in the fun. At least two shots came off the underside of the crossbar and one was pulled back for offsides. Watford's final goal came on a penalty kick from a Steve Morison handball. Deeney stepped back and let Lewis McGugan make up for his shot that went off the wood.

Giuseppe Sannino is now four points in two matches and five days. The next test is Sunday, December 29 at Vicarage Road as the Hornets welcome QPR. Kickoff is a far more decent 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Ipswich Town 1-1 Watford 6-8-7 26 pts

Not bad for Giuseppe Sannino's first match as Watford gaffer.

Sannino's flexible 5-3-2 formation delivered a scoreless half with few chances for Ipswich. At 73 minutes, Gabriele Angella took a ball off his thigh that referee Graham Scott decided subsequently went off his arm. Ipswich's top scorer David McGoldrick sent Manuel Almunia the wrong way to take the lead.

Resignation settled in to the away fans, justifiable in light of recent form, but Troy Deeney found a Cristian Battocchio cross to equalize with nine minutes left and Watford salvaged a point.

The Hornets get their next test of form on Boxing Day, Thursday, December 26 when Vicarage Road hosts Millwall. Kickoff is 7:00 am St. Louis time.

Sannino Named

Well-traveled manager Giuseppe Sannino has been signed through season end with an option for the 2014-15 season.

Zola Out!

To the surprise of no one and the disappointment of many, Gianfranco Zola tendered his resignation yesterday in the aftermath of Watford's 1-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday Saturday.

(see his open letter to the fans here)

Zola led Watford to the Championship playoffs last season and racked up a respectable 29-15-22 record as manager of the Hornets, but having gone winless since October 5, he recognized his current ineffectiveness as gaffer.

Odds-on favorite to replace Zola is 56-year old Italian manager Giuseppe Sannino, released from Serie A side A.C. Chievo Verona in November.

Good luck and thanks for some exciting football, Franco!

Watford 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday 6-7-7 25 pts

The countdown has begun for Gianfranco Zola's ouster after a 1-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday today.

Play improved this match and a disallowed goal might have - might have - been a true equalizer, but the loss to a squad that still sits in relegation territory even with the benefit of today's three points and headed by a caretaker manager is testing the patience of many fans.

A free-kick by Connor Wickham 24 minutes in proved the only goal. The Hornets are winless in eight matches.

The next match is at Ipswich, Saturday, December 21. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Leeds United 3-3 Watford 6-7-6 25 pts.

Hats off to Brian McDermott's side, coming as they did from a 0-2 deficit at the half to lead 3-2 into the last few minutes of regulation.

It was a tale of two halves with Watford securing an early lead from a ten-yard goal by Troy Deeney twelve minutes in. The Hornets doubled that lead at the end of the first half when Hector Bellerin lead a counter-attack from a Peacocks' free kick and fed the ball to Cristian Battocchio to finish.

But, as so often has happened in recent matches, the defense slipped up, letting Danny Pugh breath hope into the match for Leeds five minutes into the second half. Sensing weakness, Leeds pummeled the Hornets defense, requiring Jonathan Bond to make save after save. But the opportunities came faster for Leeds than the heroics did for Bond and Watford found themselves victims of a three goal comeback with five minutes left.

From this vantage, Troy Deeney rescued a point in the table with a rebound of a George Thorne shot in the 86th minute.

Watford continues with the third leg of their four-match 'road trip' next Saturday, December 14 at Sheffield Wednesday. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Burnley nil-nil Watford 6-6-6 24 pts

We'll not speak of Yeovil Town ever again



Despite Tuesday's match resulting in seven straight without a win for the Hornets, the universal take on this scoreless draw against Sean Dyche's side seems to be that this is the turning point, the realization of Gianfranco Zola's 'cunning plan'.

True, there were no defensive gaffs costing us points, no momentary lapses of concentration, and, all-in-all, Watford played a solid 90 minutes of Championship draw football. But let's not schedule our days off in May for the playoffs just yet.

The confidence of an athlete is a fragile thing, especially in a side as young as Watford's, and the level of confidence is contagious - good or bad. The true test comes in building off this base. The next fixture for is Saturday, November 23 at Leeds United. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Watford 0-1 Bolton Wanderers 6-5-5 23 pts.

This week's defensive screw-up comes from none other than Manuel Almunia who dropped a Neil Danns cross in front of the net for Jermaine Beckford to punch into the top of the net at the 26 minute mark.

Adding insult to injury, the Hornets played well the rest of the match, but dropped their third straight home match.

Yeovil Town tries to make it four next Saturday with the Vicarage Road festivities kicking off at 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Middlesbrough 2-2 Watford 6-5-4 23 pts

A last-minute (literally) goal from Daniel Ayala, redeeming a defensive error that gave Watford the lead earlier, cost the Hornets two points and leave them standing outside the playoff zone.

Boro took an early lead with Albert Adomah finding his way through a miscommunicating Watford defense. Troy Deeney equalized with his first goal in seven matches ten minutes later and the match went into the half even at one.

Lloyd Doyley pulled up with a Charlie horse just before the half and was replaced by Essiad Belkalem at the start of the second half. Poor defending by Ayala led to a Fernando Forestieri goal in minute 73, but he erased his own error against Watford's own defensive miscues to salvage the point for Boro.

The next fixture for Watford is Saturday, November 23 when Bolton visits Vicarage Road. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Watford 0-3 Leicester City 6-4-4 22 pts

I finally manage to get Daylight Savings right and I miss the start time. Yeesh!

Leicester got their revenge for last season's playoff loss vs a struggling Hornets side; all of ten minutes of which I got to listen to. I'm not real disappointed to miss a 3-0 drubbing, but would have loved to hear the first goal as Manuel Almunia's goal kick bounced off of Chris Wood's face and rebounded into the goal.

Header indeed.

Well, maybe next week when Watford travels to Middlesbrough Saturday, November 9. Kickoff will be 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Watford 6-4-3 22 pts

No real dominance for Watford, but they still managed to snag one point and nearly three.

Watford came out shooting at the start of both halves, a Sean Murray volley deflected into the net after four minutes giving the Hornets an early lead. Fernando Forestieri scored an apparent second goal seconds into the second half, but it was not granted and defender Gordon Greer hustled it out back over the line.

The lead did not hold and Brighton salvaged a point with a 54th minute equalizer.

Two former Hornets, Tomasz Kuszczak and Will Buckley shined for BHA in the Championship clash

Watford lies a point off the playoff zone and prepare to meet Leicester City at Vicarage Road Saturday, November 2. Kickoff is 11:00 am St. Louis time.

Watford 2-3 Derby County 6-3-3 21 pts.

Oh must I?

As you may have gathered by the fact that I've waited three days to post this loss, the exercise does not fill me with glee.

When we lose, we lose predictably. Through defense. Through inattention. And like a mid-table Championship squad.

We are like a teenage driver whose been doing just fine then gets distracted by the radio and backs into the side of the garage. We look like a Premier side for a game or two and then "bam", we dent the car.

Goals by Fernando Forestieri and Lewis McGugan did little to ease three Derby go-ahead goals, the last coming with two minutes of regulation left to sap a point from the Hornets who find themselves a point out of playoff contention.

The next chance comes Monday, October 28 at Brighton and Hove Albion. Kickoff is 12:45 pm St. Louis time.

Huddersfield Town 1-2 Watford 6-3-2 21 pts.

Don't let the opposition in on the secret, but apparently scoring early just pisses the Hornets off. Danny Ward headed in the first goal of the day at the 17 minute mark and Fernando Forestieri answered a minute later. Watford never let up after that point.

Daniel Pudil poked a rebound into the net with two minutes left in the half and Watford continued to have scoring chances through out the second half as a clumsy Huddersfield defense repeatedly turned the ball over in their own half.

None of these amounted to goals, but they didn't have to. All-in-all, I'd rather see chances without goals than playing for a safe draw.

The win puts the Hornets in 5th going into the two-week international break. The next match is Saturday, October 19th at Vicarage Road against Derby County. Kickoff is 7:00 am (gulp!) St. Louis time.

Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Watford 5-3-2 18 pts.

Oh how spoiled we've become.

Fifteen months or so under Gianfranco Zola and the Pozzo family, we've come to expect exciting football! scoring! wins!

None of which we saw yesterday at Ewood Park. In fact it was a score-nothing, do-nothing, win-nothing affair reminiscent of a few years back. There were few scoring chances on either end and little in the way of excitement in-between - your worst-case Championship-level match.

To be fair, there have been few of these this season and the Hornets get to redeem themselves Saturday, October 5 at Huddersfield. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Watford 1-0 Wigan 5-3-1 18 pts

It was a match of 'wait for it, wait for it'. The waiting paid off with a scant eight minutes left as Cristian Battocchio struck home the winner from the edge of the box. Wigan had multiple chances but could not capitalize and Watford took the three points, leaving them in 4th place at the end of nine matches.

Their chance to catch Burnley & Leicester comes Tuesday, October 1, when they travel to Blackburn. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.

LC Round 3: Watford 2-3 Norwich City

Watford showed its Premier League form yesterday: they crumbled in the waning minutes of the match against a true Prem squad.

Twice.

Despite being up 2-0 at home on goal by Javier Acuna and Davide Faraoni, the Hornets were escorted out of Cup play by a pair of Gary Hooper (Super-Duper!) goals in the 90th and 115th minutes respectively.

As an aside, it wasn't my fault (or it was entirely my fault depending on how you look at it). I was on board for the first two goals, but conference calls pulled me out of action for the second half and added time.

But back to League play then as we host Wigan Saturday, September 28. Kickofff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Barnsley 1-5 Watford 4-3-1 15 pts.

It looked like another one of those games Saturday. A porous defense in front of the Barnsley goal gave way to Troy Deeney seven minutes in, followed by an equally slipshod Watford defense and the equalizer after another seven minutes. The Hornets reponded quickly though with Marco Faraoni recapturing the lead four minutes later.

The score stood 1-2 until two minutes to the half when Fernando Forestieri put the visitors up by two. The goal-scoring wealth was shared further as Sean Murray and Ikechi Anya each contributed to the drubbing.

The result puts Watford in 5th in the league table and has them topping the league in goals scored. Conversely, Barnsley has let in more goals than any other squad this year.

The win leaves Watford with seven points for the week, but action now turns back to the League Cup as Vicarage Road hosts Norwich City tomorrow, Tuesday, September 24. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.

Watford 2-1 Doncaster Rovers 3-3-1 12 pts.

A Lewis McGugan penalty salvaged two points for Watford yesterday in what threatened to be another one of 'those games'.

McGugan put the Hornets up thirteen minutes in but in all-too-familiar Watford fashion, the Rovers equalized just three minutes later when Chris Brown found a rebounded Theo Robinson shot at his feet. It looked like another single point for Watford as the match drew to a close, but Sean Murray snuck into the penalty area just as James Husband committed a sloppy foul, setting up the penalty shot for McGugan which he slotted for his second goal.

The win puts Watford back in the playoff zone with twelve points.

The next match is Saturday, September 21st at Barnsley. Kickoff is 9:00 St. Louis time.

Watford 1-1 Charlton Athletic 2-3-1 9 pts

Oh! the perils of listening on the go. I managed to miss Daniel Pudil's equalizer while popping into the grocery store for lunch fixin's.

I did, however, get to hear Yann Kermorgant's penalty kick in the opening minutes of the second half that put Chris Powell's squad ahead. A senseless foul by Essiad Belkalem on Lawrie Wilson set up the PK and typified the sort of mental lapses that are plaguing the Hornets.

Watford has faced a classic 'not living up to their potential' run of form, going winless in their last four league encounters. It's been the momentary lapses in defense, the sloppy fouls, that have marred otherwise well-played matches and have cost a point here, two points there, and find the Hornets currently in 9th place.

They get a chance to fix that Tuesday, September 17th as they host the Doncaster Rovers. Kickoff is 1:45 St. Louis time.

Blackpool 1-0 Watford 2-2-1 8 pts.

Blackpool showed what a keeper on his game can do to an otherwise dominant squad yesterday - namely, keep your side in the match just long enough for one flash of brilliance that hands your squad three points.

That's just what Matt Gilks managed for 90 minutes, saving a Troy Deeney penalty, parrying a couple of second efforts and, yes, nabbing a slice of luck as two Watford shots bounced off the wood.

Though the Hornets dominated the first half, Blackpool redeemed themselves in the second and held fast until Tom Ince, son of gaffer Paul (real life IS just like high school, the coach's kid gets the ball) struck home an impossible-to-stop goal to keep Blackpool undefeated and hand Watford their first loss of the season.

Watford has two weeks to stew over the loss as the international break is upon us. League ties resume Saturday September 14 when Vicarage Road welcomes Charleton. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

LC Round 2: Watford 2-0 AFC Bournemouth

Well, it wasn't 6-1 this time, but Watford has pitted the Cherries for the second time this month. An embarrassing own goal by Elliott Ward as he attempted to chest the ball back to keeper Ryan Allsop and failed gave the Hornets the lead fifteen minutes in. Cristian Battocchio sealed the deal at the 66th minute chipping one over Allsop that nicked the bottom of the bar and rebounded in.

Watford next hosts Premier League side Norwich City in the third round the week of September 23rd. The next league match is Saturday, August 31 at Blackpool. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Watford 1-1 Nottingham Forest 2-2-0 8 pts

Who schedules a match at 7:15 in the morning?! What? It's not 7:15 in Watford? Never mind.

I listened to this clash of the table leaders in bed (I'll let that image sink in). Ah . . . technology.

Despite former Forest (Forester? Lumberjack? Forestierri?) Lewis McGugan scoring the equalizer on a loopy free-kick, my Man of the Match has to be keeper/captain/all-around good egg Manuel Almunia for the six saves to salvage the point. An assist goes to Marco Cassetti, without whose poor defending, Almunia's feats would not have been possible.

The next match is Wednesday, August 28 in the second round of League Cup action when Bournemouth travels to Vicarage Road. Kickoff 1:45 pm St. Louis time.

Reading 3-3 Watford 2-1-0 7 pts.

Should not have let relegated Reading go two up by the half. Certainly shouldn't have eked out a point by scoring three in the second half, but did. Diego Fabbrini was my man of the match, coming on in substitution down a goal to draw a foul for Troy Deeny, then stuck in the equalizer in the 89th minute. The result drops Watford to second in the table.

The next match is Sunday, August 25th against Nottingham Forest at Vicarage Road. An early start, it kicks of at 7:15 am St. Louis time.

Vydra to West Brom

Striker Matej Vydra departs for West Bromwich Albion after 20 goals for Watford last season. Such are the riches which plague the Hornets. Good luck Matej.

Watford 6-1 AFC Bournemouth 2-0-0 6 pts.

It took a penalty shot, but Troy Deeney scored Watford's first hat trick in ten years as the Hornets buried Bournemouth 6-1 to jump to the top of the Championship standings.

Although Gabriele Angella put Watford ahead in the 13th minute, there were no hints of dominance in the first half over the newly promoted Cherries. The Hornets relaxed and Lewis Grabban equalized at the half hour mark sending the squads to the locker room at the half even up at 1-1.

Angella nabbed his second on a set piece eight minutes into the second half and then Katie bar the door. Deeney's first goal three minutes later proved too powerful and slipped in despite a deflection. Lewis McGugan scored his first as a Hornet ten minutes later.

Deeney chested a pass and beat two to score his second with two minutes left in regulation, then after Diego Fabbrini was tripped in the penalty area, he sent keeper Ryan Alsop the wrong way for the hat trick.

Precision passing was out and the squad looked more like the Hornets of old today with lots of long bomb passes over the midfield. Whatever the tactic, Watford looked dominant.

Bournemouth will return to Vicarage Road Wednesday, August 28 for Round 2 of the League Cup. The next match, however, is next Saturday, August 17 at Reading. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

LC Round 1: Bristol Rovers 1-3 Watford

Yes, I know, it was at Memorial Stadium, not Vicarage Road.

There's probabaly no surer sign that we're now big time than using the second string against lower level opponents in cup play and expecting to win. The Hornets were so confident, Troy Deeney ended up in the BBC Three Counties broadcast both and the Hornets fielded nine changes from the season opener.

Thanks to a little thing called 'work', I managed to miss all the goal calls even as I watched them roll up on the smartphone. Gabriele Angella played the meat to a Sean Murray sandwich and Watford's three halftime goals stood up for the rest of the match.

Second Round draws will be Thursday and the Hornets play their home opener Saturday, August 10 against Bournemouth. Kickoff will be 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Birmingham City 0-1 Watford 1-0-0 3 pts.

And so it begins; what may very well be Watford's promotion season. That's the expectation going in and it's up to the Hornets to prove it wrong.

No one was surprised to see a win over the Blues and I'd put the effort at a B+ grade. Zola's side was quick to recognize weakness in the Birmingham City midfield and jump on it (over it really). The new boys seemed to fit in well with the Watford style of play though it remained hard to sustain for 90 minutes in the first match of the season.

Troy Deeney found himself at the business end of a series of passes to slot an early goal that stood as the scoring for the day. With the benefit of an off-season that was, shall we say, more focused on football this year and following a terrific 2012-2013 season, Deeney was be a force if he remains healthy.

The Hornets next throw their hats into the FA Cup ring with a match at Vicarage Road against the Bristol Rovers on Tuesday, August 6. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.

Assombalonga Takes the Conga to Posh

Peterborough United has broken their transfer record in signing the Zairian striker to a four-year deal. The 20-year old has spent most of his Watford career on loan, most recently to Southend United. Darragh MacAnthony, chairman of the League One side, expressed his excitement at signing a "new number 9 at last."

Hogg to Huddersfield Town

Midfielder Jonathan Hogg has joined Huddersfield Town on a three-year contract. Hogg's two-year stay at Watford saw 40 starts, 78 appearances and no goals for the 24-year old.

Two More Join the Fold

Ikechi Anya returns to Watford, this time with a three-year contract with the Hornets. Manchester United defender Reece Brown has inked a two-year deal.

Brown had five caps with the England U20 squad and has spent the last four seasons on loan variously with Ipswich Town, Coventry City, Oldham Athletic, Doncaster Rovers, and Bradford City.

Five More Sign

Returning to Watford is Almen Abdi. He'll be joined by:

Paraguayan forward Javier Acuna
Italian fullback Marco Davide Faraoni
Italian defender Gabriele Angella and
Striker/attacking midfielder/winger Diego Fabbrini

All come from Udinese

Permanent Italians

At least four of Udinese's season-long loanees from last season are returning to Watford on transfer for the upcoming season including Daniel Pudil (4-year contract), Cristian Battocchio (3-year), Manuel Almunia & Marco Cassetti (1-year each).

The football league changed their loanee rules to encompass foreign-registered players after Watford loaded up on Udinese player last season, requiring the need for formal transfers.

Bond Signs

Keeper Jonathan Bond has signed a three-year contract with the Hornets.

Stephen McGinn Off to Sheffield United

The mid-fielder who came to Watford with much promise has signed a two-year deal with the League One side.

A 2011 knee injury laid McGinn low for nearly two years and he spent the last half of last season on loan to Shrewsbury Town.

Best of luck Stephen.

Season Starts August 3

At Birmingham City. For the whole fixture list, click here.

So It's Bristol Rovers Then

Only three weeks past the letdown of last season's playoff finals and we have the first news of the next.

The week of August 5 will see Bristol Rovers host he Hornets in the first round of the League Cup. Life goes on.

Championship Final: Crystal Palace 1-0 Watford a.e.t

The Hornets finally ran out of luck in what has to be one of the most tedious matches of the year.

Watford never really mounted the waves of attacking football that got them to the finals and each side seemed content to let the match be decided by penalty kicks which, eventually, it was.

Watford's lowest moments this season have come when playing back on defense rather than the relentless attacks that have served them well. Today was no exception. The first half saw no saves needed from Julian Speroni and the Hornets' fortunes went from bad to worse when Matej Vydra went down with ten minutes left in the first half and had to be pulled at half-time.

The Eagles did manage one flurry of attacks and corners late in the second half, but Manuel Almunia rose to the occasion to bat away all Palace scoring chances.

Two knackered squads squared off for the extra 30 minutes and it looked like it was headed to a shoot-out when a weary Marco Cassetti hauled down Wilfreid Zaha in the penalty area. Former Hornet Kevin Phillips slotted the game winner with fifteen minutes left and that was all she wrote.

It's been a great season. Watford probably should have been out before this, but they always fought back and played entertaining football.

Here's to a great season and an even better one next year.

Championship Semi-Final Leg 2: Watford 3 - 1 Leicster City (3-2 agg)

Sometimes this gets too exciting. Remember the old canard about the Chinese symbol being the same for 'crisis' and 'opportunity'? No?





Just when you thought we were going into extra time, crisatunity struck.

The home leg started well for the Hornets with Matej Vydra evening the aggregate fifteen minutes into the match. Credit Cristian Battocchio for the assist. The Foxes regained the lead four minutes later when David Nugent, owner of the lone goal from Thursday, went up unmarked from a corner kick and headed in a go-ahead.

The Hornets waited until the 65th minute to counter when Vydra got his second goal of the match. I levitated off the bed (in bed because this damn thing started at 6:30 am St. Louis time). There it stood until this:



Six minutes into injury time, on the verge of extra time and maybe a penalty shoot-out, and one of the lamest fouls I've seen called sets up the penalty kick. Anthony Knockaert dives like the Frenchman he is when Marco Cassetti blows on him, and Watford is now a penalty kick away from staying down.

All eyes on Manuel Almunia. Is he injury-prone? Yes. Is he ungraceful? Yes. Does he save the shot with his BOOT and the rebound with his FACE? YES!!! Watford counters - Fernando Forestierri to Jonathan Bond to Troy Deeney, who started the season in jail and the tie on suspension, and Watford is going to Wembly!!

After three days off and a training session in Spain, they'll be back to battle it out against Ian Holloway's Crystal Palace (2-0 over BHA) on Memorial Day for the last promotion spot to the Premiership. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

GO YOU 'ORNS!!!!

Championship Semi-Final Leg 1: Leicester City 1-0 Watford

A late set-piece put Leicester a goal ahead as the second leg comes back to Vicarage Road.

The Hornets played a refreshed Manuel Almunia at goal and Alex Geijo plus Matej Vydra up front for a suspended Troy Deeney.

As expected, Leicester pressured Watford at the start of both halves but to no avail as the Hornets rope-a-doped them into exhaustion. But Watford could not capitalize, a tentative Vydra missing a golden opportunity against Kasper Schmeichel at the hour mark.

David Nugent did not miss heading in a free-kick with nine minutes left and the Foxes held their lead.

The second leg kicks off Sunday at 6:45 am St. Louis time. An aggregate tie will go into a 30 minute period of extra time, with the tie-breaker going to penalty kicks.

Watford 1-2 Leeds United 23-8-15 77 pts.

You want drama?

The ups & downs started before the teams even took the field but ended with the Hornets bound for King Power Stadium and a playoff for the last promotion spot to the Premier League.

Watford, though playing Leeds on the pitch were, in reality, playing Hull City in the league table, needing to best the Tigers' result against Cardiff City to secure automatic promotion.

Injury-prone keeper Manuel Almunia lived down to his reputation and injured himself in warm-ups, calling for the start of Jonathan Bond between the sticks and the injuries continued with Leeds' Steve Morison coming off after ten minutes and then Bond himself dislocating his shoulder in the twentieth minute in a collision with Ikechi Anya. After Bond was stretchered off with oxygen, 19-year old Irishman Jack Bonham made his professional debut.

United tested the young keeper and finally Dominic Poleon tapped in a soft goal from two yards out after miscommunication between Bonham & Joel Ekstrand with three minutes left in the regulation 45. The injuries, however, called for sixteen(!) minutes of added time in the first half and Watford took the opportunity to equalize with Almen Abdi scoring five minutes into the extra time off an assist by Anya.

An hour is a long time to play a half and fatigue & frustration caught up with Troy Deeney who was carded late in the half for childishly kicking the ball away from play. This would come back to haunt the Hornets in the second half.

Meanwhile in Hull . . .

Cardiff City manager and ex-Hornet Malky Mackay was doing his best to get Watford into the Premier League. The teams went into half time nil-nil, but as the Watford match had been delayed by injury, by the time Watford and Leeds went into the dressing rooms, Frazier Campbell had put the Bluebirds up a goal and Watford were temporarily in second place.

That lasted all of nine minutes.

Hull equalized and eventually went ahead 2-1 a bit after the hour mark, leaving Watford reliant on help from the Welsh side.

With a yellow already, Leeds pressured Troy Deeney and it paid off when a late challenge earned Deeney a second yellow and a sending off. Deeney, who's had his own roller-coaster year, starting it in prison for assault (or as the Brits so genteelly put it, affray), will miss the first leg of the semis as well.

To summarize:

With thirty minutes left to play, a short-handed Watford must win and Cardiff must equalize.

Watford did their damnedest, requiring a fantastic save by Patrick Kenyon  from a Matej Vydra deflection. Cardiff did their part as well, despite ex-Hornet Andrew Taylor being sent off. A Hull City penalty kick was saved by David Marshall in added time and then, in dramatic fashion, Nicky Maynard was awarded a penalty kick for Cardiff on the last play of the match and earned the draw for the league champs.

Needing a single goal, Watford instead, at the ninety minute mark, let Ross McCormack through for a chip over Bonham's head after he came off the line and that was all she wrote.

The first leg of the semi-finals will be a return to Leicester, where Watford won the second of their regular season matches last Friday, on Thursday, May 9th. Kickoff will be 1:45 St. Louis time. The second leg at Vicarage Road will be Sunday, May 12th.

Go 'Orns!!

Barnsley 2-0 Hull City

Barnsley 'till I die! we play them again.

Which may be quite a while if things go as planned. Barnsley's lunge to clear the relegation zone sets up next Saturday's battle by proxy for the final automatic promotion spot in the Championship Division.

In a nutshell, Hull City must equal or top Watford's result next Saturday as they lie a mere point ahead of the Hornets and would lose a push on goal difference.

Hull meets league champs Cardiff City; Watford play the Leeds United. Both clubs are at home.

Exciting, no?

Leicester City 1-2 Watford 23-8-14 77 pts

Watford pulls within a point of Hull City for the final automatic promotion spot today with its no-holds-barred effort over Leicester. Back-to-back goals by Troy Deeney and Nathaniel Chalobah put the Hornets up 2-0 as the half which they had dominated came to a close.

A Harry Kane header and ten men forward as Leicester fights for the last playoff spot availed them not and Watford has done all they can going into the last match. Hull travels to Barnsley tomorrow and can clinch with a win.

Watford's final match of the regular season comes next Saturday, May 4 at Vicarage Road vs Leeds United. Kickoff is at 9:00 am when we will all shout . . .

Go 'Orns!!!

Leicester City Match Today

Now as a matter of fact.

I missed the fixture change as this match is being televised in the U.K. Apologies.

Watford 4-0 Blackburn Rovers 22-8-14 74 pts.

I caught the first (boring) half of this match, but was on the road for the score-fest in the second half. Enjoy the summary by those hacks at BBC instead by clicking on the title.

The three points leave Watford four points short of automatic promotion with two matches left. Hull needs one win in their last two matches to push the Hornets into the playoffs - a good chance away at Barnsley this Saturday, less so against Cardiff, who clinched the title Saturday, on the final day.

Watford's last match will be at Vicarage Road against Leeds United. Meanwhile, the Hornets travel to Leicester, themselves fighting to reach the playoff zone, Saturday, April 27. Kickoff is 9:00 an St. Louis time.

Millwall 1-0 Watford 21-8-14 71 pts

Despite dominating the match in every other category, failing in the most important one has left the Hornets six points behind with three matches left to play.

Two battered sides squared off this Tuesday, Millwall recovering from their FA Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Wigan two days prior, and Watford reeling from their 3-2 Peterbrough loss Saturday.

Watford kept the upper hand at The Den until the last ten minutes when a James Henry shot rebounded off Manuel Almunia to be sunk by Shaun Batt for the match's only goal.

At this rate, Watford is staggering into the playoffs, the first leg of which is scheduled for the 9th-10th of May (technically, Nottingham Forest can bump them off if they win all three of their matches and Watford loses theirs).

But first they have to get through Blackburn this Saturday. Kickoff at Vicarage Road is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Peterbrough United 3-2 Watford 21-8-13 71 pts

A truly ugly match Saturday that was nowhere near as close as the 3-2 scoreline indicated. Watford's hopes for a clear path to automatic promotion were dashed by The (lowly) Posh as the loss put them six points off second place with but four matches left.

Danny Swanson left Manuel Almunia with no chance to put Peterbrough up at the half-hour mark and Dwight Gayle doubled the score at minute 61. Marco Cassetti got himself sent off six minutes later hauling down Gayle and set up a goal-scoring free kick by Lee Tomlin at 67 minutes to make the spread 3-0.

Two late goals by Mark Yeates and Fernando Forestierri salvaged Hornet pride but no points.

The first of the remaining four matches is tomorrow at Millwall. Kickoff is 1:45 pm St. Louis time.

Watford nil-nil Cardiff City 21-8-12 71 pts

Malky Mackay made it the second ex-Hornet manager in a row to visit Vicarage Road as the Bluebirds, on their way to their first top-flight appearance in 51 years, battled Watford to a nil-nil draw.

Malky brought a full complement of former 'orns, Tommy Smith, Jordan Mutch & Andrew Taylor all seeing service.

Sloppy defending and a number of fouls for the first half hour let Cardiff challenge the Hornets with set pieces, but it was Watford that troubled keeper David Marshall for the last hour of the match. In the end, both Marshall and Manuel Almunia in his first match back from injury, kept clean sheets.

The draw helped Cardiff, marking time at the top of table, five points ahead of Hull City with six matches to go, including a game in hand. On the other hand, Hull stretched its lead over Watford for the second automatic promotion slot by two points with a 1-0 win over Middlesborough.

Watford's next match of five left is at Peterborough United Saturday, April 13. Kickoff is 9:00 am St. Louis time.

Hull City 0-1 Watford 21-7-12 70 points

Troy Deeney's goal five minutes ahead of halftime drew the Hornets within one point of Hull City in the battle for the second automatic promotion berth.

The home side controlled the first ten minutes, but Watford turned the tide midway through the first half, culminating with team captain Deeney's sixteenth goal of the season into the top corner of the net.

The Tigers tested Jonathan Bond with a point-blank shot from George Boyd in added time and three shots on goal in the first ten minutes of the second half. Watford maintained for the rest of the match despite Steve Bruce throwing three forwards at them in the last fifteen minutes.

The win, which saw Lloyd Doyley's 400th appearance as a Hornet, leaves Watford in a clear third place as they host league-leader Cardiff City this Saturday, April 6. Kick off is 11:20 am St. Louis time.

Watford 3-3 Burnley 20-7-12 67 pts.

Watford once again failed to capitalize on a lead, allowing Burnley to equalize in added time and losing out on two vital points in the standings with only seven matches left.

The Good Friday match saw Sean Dyche's return to Vicarage Road, his first since his dismissal over the summer and his side took the lead before the clock ticked over to one minute on a strike by Charlie Austin.

That lead did not last long as captain Troy Deeney equalized by nailing the lower left-hand corner in minute six. Austin got this second goal on a penalty shot after Marco Cassetti fouled Alex Kacaniklic for a second short-lived lead.

Fenando Forestieri equalized five minutes later and Burnley felt pressed by the Hornets for the rest of the half as Watford could not find the net despite several opportunities.

Forestieri sunk his second in at the 72 minute mark, but Watford failed to press the Clarets and paid dearly in the five minutes of added time, garnering only one point and hovering just below automatic promotion.

They have a chance to make amends Friday when they travel to Hull to face the second place Tigers in a match that will see a potential six-point swing. Kick off is 2:45 pm St. Louis time.

Nosworthy Down

Defender Nyron Nosworthy is out for the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in international play Friday. The Jamaican national underwent surgery Monday. The usual course of events is a recovery of up to six months.

Vydra is Championship Player of the Year

Though I'm not sure how (or why) they determine these things with a month left in the season, Czech striker Matej Vydra has been named the Championship Division player of the year as voted on by the Championship managers.

The Best of All Possible Outcomes (Almost)

In November, the Watford Observer reported on financial shenanigans that ran the risk of point deductions that could torpedo the Hornets' successful season.

Yesterday the issue was resolved with the club avoiding any points deductions or fines and subject only to league pre-approval of any transfers.

The down side (kind of)? Former owner Laurence Bassini was banned from the League for three years for his role, thus depriving Watford the opportunity to have him screw up a competitor.

We'll manage.

Barnsley 1-0 Watford 20-6-12 66 pts

They can't all be exciting Watford victories.

Barnsley, in good home form as they battle to stay in the Championship, banged away at the Watford defense until they took the lead, then stayed scrappy to capture the three points.

Jason Scotland pointed the way, scooting behind the defense to force a save from Jonathan Bond at the half hour mark. Bobby Hassell, on for an injured Rory Delap, traveled the trail Scotland blazed and scored the only goal of the match.

The good news of the day came from KC stadium where Hull City fell to Nottingham Forest to stay only three points ahead of the Hornets in the battle for automatic promotion.

The league goes into a break for international competition, with the next match on Good Friday seeing Burnley coming to Vicarage Road. Kickoff is 10:00 am St. Louis time.

Quit Whining Franco

Yes. Refs blow calls. Yes, it sucks (Don Denkinger anyone?). But in the grand scheme of things, bad calls even out.

At least they should. It may be Watford is getting more than their share of uncalled fouls given the influx of Italian loanees and the stereotype of diving they bring.

In any case, missed fouls did not swing the match from a one goal lead to a loss Saturday. Professionals need to play professionally, especially if they want to play at the top levels. They cannot choke in the face of a bad call (see the aforementioned Cardinals). The Hornet's loss came from lack of aggression, not incompetent or malevolent refereeing.

The good news is, unlike the officiating, that is something Zola can fix.

Watford 1-2 Blackpool 20-6-11 66 pts.

I'm back . . .

A combination of business & ennui has had this blog on hold for the last six weeks, but I have been following the Hornets as they fight for automatic promotion. As it stands at the moment (just following the B'Pool match) they hold second place in the table by a single point over Crystal Palace and Hull City.

They hold the league lead in goals but not goal difference, a distinction that, as you can imagine, has made for some exciting matches. Today's against Blackpool has been typical of the Hornets' difficulties in sealing the deal.

Watford got in an early lead with a Cristian Battocchio goal near the 30 minute mark, but failed to press their advantage. The pattern has been clear: when attacking after a lead they win, when playing it safe, they've given back points in the table they shouldn't have.

The Hornets failed to press today and were rewarded with goals from Tom Ince & Gary MacKenzie. Though the line-up has firmed up, injuries have dictated some changes, most notably Jonathan Bond between the sticks for Manuel Almunia, that leave the squad just a little more uncertain than they would like to be in the final stretch. They cannot afford to let any point slip.

The final match before the pre-Easter International break is next Saturday, March 16 at Barnsley. We'll be in the Daylight Savings Time notch, so kickoff should be at 10:00 St. Louis time.

Forestieri Signs

Udinese loanee, Frenando Forestieri is loanee no more. The 22-year old striker has signed a 5 1/2 year contract with the Hornets, quieting some fears that Watford will simply be a way-station on the Udinese/Granada pipeline. The Pozzos seem serious about making Watford a contender for the Premier League as the club currently resides in the playoff zone.

Moves & Rumors

With the transfer window open, the moves and rumors have begun:

• Joe Garner: released and off on free transfer to Preston North End
• Lee Hodson: Loan to Brentford continued until end of season
• Robbie Brady: Rumored £2 million bid for the Manchester United midfielder